today, his classmates, most wearing black gathered to remember. what went wrong here. the petersons were described as the perfect family. police are looking for clues. they say there is no threat to the community. >> the helicopters were constantly going over. it was devastating. >> at the church the petersons regularly attended, they prepared for tonight's memorial. >> this is a family that tonight people are missing terribly. they feel like part of their life has been diminished because the family is not here anymore.

>> the pastor says the family was in church on sunday, in the year that they were at a community event, and there were no -- in church on sunday, and we hear that they were at a community event, and there were no signs of trouble. >> for more on this story you can go to our website at wjla.com. gordon? >> a car crashed into a house in olney. montgomery county police say a man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. this is what it looked like inside the house. this is a picture of the living room. they say one person was home at the time and that person was not hurt. this wreck shut down some roads

and hazmat crews were called back to clean up some diesel that was leaking from the truck. some were taken to a hospital and sustained non life- threatening injuries. >> will pepco employees strike and will they raise rates? natasha barrett. a decision on one of these issues? >> the people behind me are angry. they are protesting. if you are a pepco customer, you cannot expect to spend a little bit more on your bill, about $5.20. they took to the streets. they are angry about this new rate hike for all pepco customers. earlier today, we spoke to several people who feel the same

way. they have been upset about all of this service interruptions, and they do not agree with this rate hike. -- upset about all of the service interruptions. >> having it come out of people's pockets for service that has not been provided folate to the fullest extent -- has not been provided fully. >> it is going on behind me and the other big issue for pepco is the union has a big vote today going on about its contract, over the health and welfare benefits of workers. many believe if that does not go well there will be a strike. i just spoke with the union president, and he says that is not what is going to happen. hopefully, we will hear what

happens later this evening. that rate hike approved for pepco customers. you will have to pay about $5.20 more on your bill. live from downtown d.c., natasha barrett, abc 7 news. >> thank you. >> bob ryan is in our weather center with what we can expect for the rest of the week. >> it is a hazy sky out there too, in our belfort furniture weather center. only in the mid 60's, 57 in culpepper, but look at the temperatures now, into the mid- and's, he than 85 degrees for you folks and fredericksburg -- into the mid 80's even 85 degrees for you folks in

fredericksburg paint these showers i think will stay to our north. -- in fredericksburg. these showers, i think, will stay to our north. north. there maybe some showers in enclosed to us by late in the afternoon. i will have all of the details in a few minutes. >> see you soon. the washington monument remains closed after the earthquake damage. brianne carter is live with the story. >> we have gotten used to the new look of the washington monument after the earthquakes one year ago and they are getting ready to put up scaffolding and begin repairs. this downtown landmark remains cracked and closed.

some have wanted to go inside during their trip to the nation's capital. >> we have obviously, long way from australia to have a look. -- we have obviously come a long way. >> they hope to have it back open as soon as possible. the contract was given to per ini management from massachusetts. over the next 60 days, scaffolding is expected to go up and then crews will begin their work seals cracks, replacing glass panels and adding a new protection system. visitors today are happy to hear

that the special site in the sky will soon be repaired. >> doing what they needed to do. >> some work has already been completed. they have repaired the elevator inside and they have also done a seismic study. this is expected to last about 12 to 18 months. we can watch it all unfold. they are installing webcams inside for as long as the project is ongoing. >> thank you. it has been years in the making, and finally, development in a shopping complex. skyland. it is about to bring business to southeast including and walmart. sam ford has all of the details. >> the city had to use the

eminent domain laws, and there is still one lawsuit pending. but they got underway with that hole behind me. lots of laughter, with marion barry at the controls. he almost lost his hat. demolition officially got underway today. >> to be redeveloped. >> mayor gray brought out neighbors and developers to celebrate this site turning it into thousands of square feet of retail including a walmart and nearly 500 units of housing. >> this has been a long time in coming. >> i did not think i would see this in my lifetime. >> they are actively at work in the city at this point. it is a great day for the city. >> the project was tied up in

court for years. >> all of a sudden a walmart coming in, and we have to move. it is really bad for the small businesses. we asked a lot of people in the neighborhood and they think what we think. >> and some have been given notice to vacate the premises. the mayor says the demolition here should be completed by the middle of next year and that the city will turn the 18-acre site over to a developer for the new project to begin. reporting live, sam ford, abc 7 news. >> thank you, sam. new information tonight in connection with the penn state scandal. perjury charges against some school administrators, including the athletic director. they are accused of lying to a grand jury that was investigating sexual abuse allegations against coach

sandusky. the army psychologist accused of carrying out the fort hood shootings was released after a state from the hospital. they will not say why he was taken to the hospital. there was the 2009 attack that wounded more than 24 and killed 13. >> coming up a warning about some very hot products increasingly being targeted by thieves. >> and one airline will soon start charging $100 per carry- on. >> absolutely not. >> and more emotional testimony of the man convicted of stalking and now being charged with murder.

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the making. >> if it is not made, what happens this weekend? >> the outrage over the refs' performance. >> players and fans are anxious for this to end. a series of bad calls by replacement referees has people fuming. one football fan compares the games into reality tv. >> it is almost comical. it gives you an excuse to go to the fridge and get another beer. >> it was something everyone was talking about during their lunch break at this downtown sports bar. if there is no deal soon they worry the reputation is at stake.

>> do not support the owners. >> some fans are taking action before this weekend's game. >> fans can boycott the games in whatever way they see fit. >> there is a facebook page where they want the fans to take a stand against the nfl and not watched football from thursday through sunday. others are being encouraged to call roger goodell his number posted on a facebook page. >> you cannot have an entire game just given away. >> the ravens host of the game, and now it is suggested that fans do not show up until after kickoff, leaving thousands of seats emptied in a nationally televised game. abc 7 news.

>> thank you. coming up, we will have more on the replacement refs, and a fine for kyle shanahan. >> it was a sad end of the game but it was a beautiful day. >> snow, slteet -- sleet. >> it is going to change again? >> a bit of pollen and haze. there is our time-lapse looking out over our beautiful city. our time-lapse is well above -- our temperature is well above average. the record was 96 degrees from 1930. it is 83 as you can see, in washington. this weather front is to our north, and i think it was state

to our north for about 24 more hours, which it will stay -- and i think it will stay to our north for about 24 more hours. as we go through the doppler over the last few hours you can see those rain showers that are up to our north right now. there is one batch heading towards gettysburg, but i think they will be staying well to our north. the patch up into pennsylvania that is to the south side of the weather front. the other side is down in ohio. about 1 inch of rain in sandusky ohio. as we go through time the weather will be sadly. -- steady. over the next 24 hours in our futurecast this is slowly comes

our way, but tomorrow, before it does -- this slowly comes our way, but tomorrow, temperatures will be rising into the 80's, but then the showers and possibly even a thundershower tomorrow afternoon, and then an area of the pressure comes our way, so that will be clouds and more showers possibly even a thundershower into friday, and some of that, unfortunately will be lingering into the weekend. temperatures right around the 80's in washington. as we get into friday that cooler air begins to push in, and once it gets here, it will stick around and temperatures only in the upper 60's to low 70's. tonight, mostly cloudy, 59 to 65 and i think temperatures in

town will only be dipping into the 70's. look at that sunrise. 7:01 tomorrow morning and some showers late tomorrow. temperatures before the showers come in around 2:00 or so i think will be into the 80's and then the cooler air with temperatures only in the high 60's to near 70 degrees and a chance of some showers even into the weekend. most of it will be rain free, but it will be a weekend with some clouds and passing showers. you can click on the live doppler and watch. >> a little rain must fall. >> yes, especially in september. >> thanks.

>> "dancing with the stars." after just one dance, it was pam anderson who was sent packing from the dance floor. she did not even state to do any interviews. -- she did not even stay to do any interviews. we will have to wait and see who rises to the stop -- the top. and a birthday, in gloria has some big news -- and gloria has some big news. >> no surprises. >> he is going to get one big surprise. >> the "modern family" premier

is tonight, and abc 7 news is at 11:00. >> coming up, and video games -- coming up, video games. >> they are calling him a hero, and i have known him since he was a baby. >> clp took matters into his own hands -- see how he took

i'm barack obama, d i approvethis message. christie: i do the laundry, i pay the bills, i make sure my kids are fed and rested and healthy. female vo: moms like christie would be stretched even more under mitt romney. to fund his tax cuts for millionaires romney could take away middle class deductions for child care, home mortgages and college tuition. christie: mitt romney, he's so focused on big business and tax cuts for the wealthyhy... it seems like his answers to middle-class america are just...tough...tough luckck.

>> it was another dramatic week in a georgia court room as a man defends himself in a murder trial. >> he is accused of a killing in 1995. the first witness has been called. >> jay korff has more. >> disturbing allegations. waseem daker is acting as his own lawyer cross-examining people who have accused him of horrendous crimes. it has been an emotional week of testimony. >> i am sorry that i have to ask that, sir. do you need a minute? >> this case revolves around the

ex-wife of michael smith. daker is on trial for her death based on recently collected dna evidence evidence dakeer says -- daker says is not reliable. he was also jailed on an unrelated stalking charge. authorities say that he was so enraged that he killed smith. he was convicted of the stalking and spent several years behind bars. this is a call from 17 years ago.

jay korff for abc 7 news. >> a teenager in oregon is being called a hero after he rescued an eight-year-old boy. he and his father rushed in when they saw flames in their neighborhood east of portland and used a ladder to climb into the second-story of a home, broke a window, and found a little boy. >> "i got you." >> the little boy and the other family members went to thank him. the fire department, meanwhile plans to honor him later this year. >> still ahead on abc 7 news at 5:00 one airline is soon going to charge $100 per carry on. >> and the release of the new

iphone. many lined up, but some had to be turned away. >> with apple

krystal conwell : we see a lot of problems with the... number of students that we have. resources. materials. things that the children need... on a day-to-day basis. anncr: question seven will help. the department of legislative services says question seven... will mean one hundred ninety nine million a year... for schools...gaming revenue that would have... gone to other states. and independent audits will guarantee the money... goes where it's supposed to. krystal conwell: i think people should vote for question... seven because i think it will be a great benefit to children.

[ romney ] my plan is to help the middle class. trade has to work for america. that means crack down on cheaters like china, it means open up new markets. next, we've got to balance the budget. you've got to cut the deficit. you've got to stop spending more money than we take in. and finally champion small business. have tax policies, regulations, and healthcare policies that help small business. we put those in place; we'll add twelve million new jobs in four years. i'm mitt romney and i approve this message.

captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> apple products are extremely popular with consumers. >> right so law-enforcement officers are also noticing that they are also very popular with thieves. >> that is right. numbers out of new york city are so alarming that the d.c. police sent out a notice of it last night. more than 7000 apple products have been stolen so far this year more than last year. this man has a sort of gadgets that -- has the sort of gadgets

that thieves like. >> they are very valuable. they retain their value. the resale value is high. they are commodities. >> sales are up this year. police have yet to see a similar spike, here, but there was recently a notice sent out to some students morning of theft. >> there have been a lot of students walking around. >> and in prince george's county the police were bracing for the launch of the iphone 5. >> people have gravitated towards it. it is very popular on the market. >> with more than 3 million

iphone 5's sold last week alone and many more and it is a breeding ground filled with apple products. >> i would be lost without my eyes son. -- without my iphone. >> there was a verizon store that was recently burglarized. there is an effort to bring all telephone companies together to block funds that are stolen -- block phones that are stolen. >> mei xiang is coping with the death of her baby at the national zoo. her appetite seems to be improving. her panda cub died on sunday. it is said it had liver

abnormalities, but further tests are not yet complete. >> the deaths of four people in herndon, they say that albert petersen killed his wife and children before turning the gun on himself. >> a vote to approve the pepco requested rate hike and that means about another $5.20 per month, and union workers are also voted on a contract. that vote is expected to come down tonight. >> and people say there is hope that regular officials will soon be back on the job. the replacement referees have been driving everybody crazy.

>> tonight on "world news," students say they are still hungry after eating the new well-balanced cafeteria meals. more about what is coming up at 6:30. holiday jobs. i understand there is some good news on this topic tonight. >> there is more available than the previous year, 150,000 already, and we will tell you who is hiring and how much they could pay and also who gets to keep the jobs throughout the year. >> another topic student lunches. there are some students out there that say they are still hungry? >> the healthier lower-calorie options, there is a rebellion with students saying they do not want to eat that and are tossing it away, and some that say they are still hungry.

>> all right diane we look forward to seeing you. thanks so much. you can see "world news" right after it abc 7 news. -- right after abc 7 news. >> there was a response to an advertisement in "the washington post." some applicants say this just shows how dire the situation regarding affordable housing is. >> i have four children. everything if -- is full. >> the apartment complex has already started processing some of the applications. >> some delays on southbound i- 395 towards duke street.

kind of slow starting at the belt way out towards manassas. -- at the beltway out towards manassas. some slow traffic towards the 270 spur. also kenilworth ave. an earlier crash was on the outer loop. an earlier accident near the baltimore washington parkway, that has been cleared. that is the latest. back to you. >> ok thanks so much. coming up, airlines made record profits on baggage fees so far this year, so will we see a decline in the fees? >> so many teenagers of limited

means dream of going to college, but the odds are stacked against them. >> and then at 6:00 tonight, the d.c. council chair.

>> it can be very difficult for low-income and at-risk youths to go to college. many will not make it there, also because they do not have anyone to help them navigate the process, but one group is helping to change back one student at a time. his dream is to become an engineer, but first, the wheaton high school student has to get accepted to college. >> i know there is like a billion other people applying for the same thing i am applying to. it is stressful. >> this girl is dreaming too about becoming a kindergarten teacher.

>> with the support i have, it does not seem as scary. >> this support comes from a group that operates in some schools, guiding underprivileged students through the very complicated and deadline-driven application process, and they also help them get scholarships. >> ethnic minorities immigrants low to moderate- income often the first generation in their family to go. about 330 seniors, all of whom were accepted to at least one college. >> i am a semifinalist with one scholarship. >> this guy is the limit -- the sky is the limit. they hope to expand into more

montgomery county schools and beyond. if you would like to learn more, just a note to wjla.com -- just go to wjla.com. >> how video games may soon help

bye, mom. we're here! [ giggling ] these days, nobody has time to get sick. mom, i don't feel good. but minuteclinic makes it easy to get well. our nurse practitioners can diagnose and write prescriptions for everything from strep throat to sinus infections with no appointment necessary, so you can feel better in no time. minuteclinic, the medical clinic in cvs pharmacy now offering flu sts every day, no appointment necessary. find a clinic near you at minuteclinic.com.

"it's time to stand up to the cheaters and make sure we protect jobs r the americanpeople." mitt romney? tough on china? romney's companies were called pioneers in shipping us manufacturing jobs overseas. he invested in firms that specialized in relocating jobs to low wage countries like china. even today part of romney's fortune is invested in china. romney's never stood up to china. all he's done is send them our jobs. i'm bara obamna and i approve this message.

>> today and other fallen soldier was laid to rest at arlington national cemetery, thalia ramirez who died in a helicopter crash. she got her pilot's wings in 2008. her friends, family, and military comrades said goodbye in a ceremony that honored her service and sacrifice. >> for the first time, a virtual combat training program is being used. >> it was developed by a local company, and it will soon be

used around the world. >> straight ahead. got him. >> it looks like a regular video game but for these current and former marines testing it out, it seems like a matter of life and death. >> it feels like if you are dying, you are really dying. >> it is transforming the way army soldiers learn to conduct missions. it is like popular games like "call of duty." >> this is to save lives and in hands training. -- and enhance training. >> it allows them also to interact with their fellow service members. >> to accomplish the mission.

>> there are these sensors which record every motion. >> the actual hand-eye coordination. your body has to make certain movements in order to perform on the battlefield. >> he was using his experience to help develop the simulation as a way to enhance training. >> the physical ability, dealing with the physical stresses, a wheel-like training event, this prepares you -- a wheel-like training event -- a real-life training event. >> he says this type of training would have prepared him even more. abc 7 news. >> this is being used at nine army bases across the nation and will eventually be used

worldwide. >> singer andy williams died last night after a battle with bladder cancer. >> ♪ the most wonderful time of the year ♪ >> "the andy williams show" won three emmys. he is survived by his wife and three children. >> staples is trying to cut costs by closing about 30 american stores. this is part of a plan to trim the retail store footage by 2015. they are also consolidating their part and mortar and -- their brick-and-mortar operations and the online. >> a woman apparently gave her

dog chester a lemon and he takes one look and then tries to do anything to get rid of that taste. chester is not happy. >> that does it. >> maureen is here. >> a great story, that video. in politics, the battleground states seem to be coming -- to be becoming all-out warfare. some of the important states in the november race, plus a small problem the president had today getting to a campaign stop. we will see you soon. >> tomorrow, katie couric.

>> katie will talk to delilah who has 8 million listeners per week. you will see that tomorrow at 4:00 right here on abc 7. >> katie gets to talk to delilah, and we get to talk to bob ryan. >> year in the belfort furniture weather center, it is a breezy and balmy evening. some showers way up to our north, the mason-dixon line. that is where they will be this evening. a southwesterly wind that we have, that will be the story tomorrow too until that front which you can see way to our north settles in around us, and once it does, it will take awhile to get out of here. i think the action will be tomorrow afternoon and evening.

possibly some thunder but much of the day once again will be partly cloudy and rather warm, with temperatures in the 80's, but as we get into friday and saturday especially friday -- friday even a period a steady rain and temperatures only in the high 60's to 70's us still not the 80's like we have right now. -- but still not the 80's like we have right now. back to you. >> anytime now, watching the clock, something is supposed to happen. the nfl and referees met again today. a few issues still remain. in order for them to be back on the field for thursday night's matchup, a written agreement

not a verbal, a written agreement has to be signed. everyone around the league is hoping a deal will happen sooner rather than later. >> i have never experienced the original refs, but we will see. i do not want to get my hopes up too high. you never know what can happen in those kinds of situations. >> do not change what you are doing. and the league also fined bill belichick for contact with an official. he says he respects the decision and has no further comments. and today, one player was put on injured reserve. and grant on his way to take a

physical got a phone call, and turned around, and came back to washington. on the other side of the ball allowing way too many points. the skins know they need to turn it around. >> every week. a lot of games are close. you either win or you lose. our division is going to be tough, i believe. >> the offense is averaging the highest point. we have got to fix it. >> in permissible contact with a refereeing -- inpermiswsible -- impermissible contact with a

>> the nation's airlines are cashing in on baggage fees. >> a record half in the first half of the year, and they are not finished with these fees yet. >> big business for u.s. airlines, so big u.s. airlines got a record profits, according to a report. >> it is outrageous. >> those fees added up to $1.70 billion in just the first half of this year. delta airlines topped the list making nearly fourth hundred $30 million. united was number two, $351

million -- delta airlines topped the list making nearly $430 million. and one airline will be charging as much as $100 per carry and bag. the transportation inspector also sees these continuing as the airline deals with oil prices and less competition and if your flight options. >> you have to pay more money -- less competition and fewer flight options. >> bags fly free. >> jetblue also gives customers their first checked bag free. the best idea is to book on the cheapest days to fly, including

tuesday's and wednesday's -- tuesdays and wednesdays. >> a new poll shows president obama has beliefs, but mitt romney is fighting back. -- has the lead, but mitt romney is fighting back. >> some students say they want answers, too. >> and some changes are on the way for our weather. that is now on the news at 6:00. >> this is abc 7 news at 6:00 on your side. >> both candidates target voters in ohio. a new poll shows a big shift there. >> the latest numbers show president obama appears to